Dear readers: Please keep in mind that this story has 28 chapters and an epilogue. Once I've finished rewriting it, I'll leave it for two days and remove it from this site.
Chapter 22
Elizabeth waited impatiently for Mr. Darcy's reply. He looked neither worried nor nervous but somewhat confused. "Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, but I do not know what you are referring to, let alone why you congratulate me. So I would like you to explain yourself, please."
"I thought you had news to tell me; I do not know. Maybe something special happened in your life in the last few days," Mr. Darcy explained, unsure.
"I am still the same person unless I have inherited a fortune from a distant relative without knowing it. I do not think there is any reason to congratulate me," Elizabeth replied, jesting but uncomfortable. She did not understand why Mr. Darcy was speaking nonsense.
"I can only say that I do not know if you are a wealthy heiress, but I do not care either," added Mr. Darcy, smiling and not knowing what else to say.
"Well ..." Elizabeth noticed how uncomfortable Mr. Darcy was, and she was thinking about how to say something to pass the tense moment.
Mr. Darcy was puzzled. Seemingly, the engagement had been Reed's lie, but he preferred not to bother Elizabeth revealing what his eternal rival had said regarding an alleged understanding between them. "Excuse me, I got confused; I am very sorry I made you uncomfortable."
Elizabeth was not surprised by his response but did not feel like arguing, so she accepted the explanation. "Do not worry; everyone gets confused once in a while."
Elizabeth served Mr. Darcy a cup of tea, and he took the opportunity to speak with her about what was concerning him. He desired to free himself from all his worries at that moment because he knew that Elizabeth would understand him. So he told her everything related to Georgiana's letters and that he and his cousin feared Wickham would use them to blackmail them.
"That man has no limits. After all the damage he has done to Georgina, he still does not have the decency to let her forget. I sincerely hope the Colonel can find a solution to all of this, and that man can pay for all the damage he has done," Elizabeth said with sincere concern.
"I only wish this nightmare ended soon," Mr. Darcy replied.
After they chatted for a few more minutes about Georgiana's letters, Elizabeth decided to ask Mr. Darcy again about his initial reaction when he learned that his sister was at the Gardiners' house. "You told me that you would explain why you reacted that way and came yelling and making accusations into this house, and I think I deserve an explanation. Enough time has passed, and we are both calm, so I guess it is the moment for you to tell me the reasons that led you to act in that despicable manner."
Mr. Darcy knew he had no escape and gave Elizabeth a brief account of how he had interpreted the facts. "I thought you and your family had managed to cajole Georgiana, and you would take advantage of her to establish a connection with me."
Elizabeth could not help but be outraged. But seeing Mr. Darcy's sincere regret, she asked as calmly as she could. "And what led you to think something like that if you did not even know my aunt and uncle."
"Because I have long been a prisoner of my prejudices because my life experience made me believe that no one could truly care about me," explained Mr. Darcy, his head downcast. He related to Elizabeth the things his mother had always told him and how, since childhood, she had made him think that he and his family were above others and that he should distrust everyone who was not from his social class.
"And you never took the trouble to reflect on the truth of her wisdom before applying it to everyone in your closeness?"
Mr. Darcy smiled and replied energetically. "No, for various reasons. First, because my mother died when I was twelve, leaving me plunged in sadness for a long time. I suppose that for that reason, I idealized her figure and treasured each of her memories. But also because life insisted on proving that my mother, at least partially, was somewhat right. For example, my father was always generous to Wickham and treated him as an equal, and you see how he repaid him. But also, from an early age, and especially when my father died, I had to tolerate many people trying to take advantage of me, even my own family. I guess it has not helped that I am a rather reserved person either."
Elizabeth was astounded. She never thought that a gentleman so wealthy and powerful hid a reserved person afraid of the world behind that haughty and arrogant mask. "I hope that from the interaction with my family, you have realized that not all people are the same and that it is not good to judge people's characters before meeting them. But, if it makes you feel better, I, too, tend to judge people before I know them well," Elizabeth added with a smile.
"I guess we are not that different after all, do you not think?" Mr. Darcy said, looking at Elizabeth. She was smiling and looked so beautiful that he could not breathe because of so much emotion. "I want you to know that I have admired your intelligence and ability to deal with difficult people for a long time..."
"Like you, for example," Elizabeth chirped. She did not like to hear Mr. Darcy talk to her so amiably. She was not ready to name the torrent of emotions he generated in her, as she was afraid to feel that close and vulnerable to him.
Mr. Darcy smiled and added, "Yes, like Bingley's sisters and me. But I would also like to tell you that…." He could not continue speaking because he heard someone approaching the room.
Elizabeth became very nervous when she saw how he looked at her. She did not understand why he insisted on doing that and wondered what he wanted from her. Fortunately, Mrs. Gardiner and Jane arrived, which reassured Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, I... I came to call on you and spoke to Miss Elizabeth about Georgiana. It is very nice to see you," Mr. Darcy said, standing and speaking nervously.
Jane and Mrs. Gardiner greeted him warmly and were glad to hear that Georgiana was better. But Mrs. Gardiner noticed that Elizabeth was also a little nervous and curious about what was happening between them.
Mr. Darcy stayed for a few more minutes, and before he left, he formally invited the Gardiners and their nieces to dinner at his home. "Please let me know when you can come. We would be honored to receive you in our house."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Darcy. I think we can set a date as soon as Betty recovers," explained Mrs. Gardiner.
"Of course, Mrs. Gardiner. Well, I think it is time to go," said Mr. Darcy, looking at Elizabeth. Finally, he said goodbye and left.
When Mr. Darcy left, Mrs. Gardiner was thoughtful, pondering about Mr. Darcy's interest in Elizabeth.
P&P
"My dear friend, everything looks spectacular. I had forgotten what a magnificent hostess you are. But I must confess that I am not here to appreciate the decoration but to listen to you play the piano," Roger Daniels told Lady Grace.
"My dear Roger, thank you for coming and bringing your family with you. I hope I meet your expectations. I know very well that you have listened to the best concert performers both here and on the continent," Lady Grace replied with a smile.
"Oh, Lady Grace, you do not know how delighted I am to be in your home and see you again," Dorothy added enthusiastically. She was ecstatic to be in the home of such an elegant and prominent figure from the first circle.
"Mrs. Daniels, thank you for your kind words and welcome to my home. Peter, Emily, what a joy to see you again." Lady Grace did not like her friend's daughter-in-law, so she was cordial but distant. But she did like her friend's grandchildren, so she talked to them, ignoring Dorothy.
Within minutes of the Daniels' arrival, Albert arrived, and when he saw Peter, he immediately joined his group. Dorothy felt uncomfortable being in the middle of two tradesmen, so when Lady Matlock and her family arrived, she went to greet them. Of course, she tried to force Emily to accompany her, but she clung to her grandfather's arm to avoid her mother.
"Dorothy, the girl does not want to go with you. Please leave her in peace; we shall greet your friends later." Dorothy said nothing to Roger but looked at him with open contempt and left.
"Thank you, Grandfather," Emily whispered to Roger. He squeezed her hand and continued speaking with his grandson and Albert.
"Miss Daniels, why did you not want to enjoy Darcy's friendly company? Indeed, he would receive you with his characteristic silence and, if fortune is on your side, with some of his famous contemptuous looks," Albert commented sarcastically.
"No, thank you, Mr. Reed. I would rather stay here chatting with my family," Emily replied with a laugh. But she sensed in Albert's tone a somewhat needless antipathy.
"Do not be so unfair to Darcy, Reed. He is a bit withdrawn, but he is not a bad person. Not everyone has your open personality," added Peter. He knew Darcy well and was aware he was rather reserved and did not feel comfortable conversing with people he did not know well.
"Albert, remember that if you do not have something pleasant to say about a person, you have better not say anything," Roger commented. He did not know the problem between the two young men but did not want to encourage such behavior.
Albert noticed Daniels's reproachful tone and realized his remark was out of place. "You are correct, Mr. Daniels. I shall take your advice into account."
Roger began to tell Albert about new business opportunities in Liverpool, and the whole group started to exchange opinions, forgetting about Darcy and his family.
Albert was pleasantly impressed with Emily. Besides his mother, he had never met a woman who knew the world of commerce so well. Apparently, Miss Daniels not only knew her grandfather's business but also had a unique talent for numbers.
"My granddaughter could very well be my accountant. She understands perfectly how my companies work, but if her mother discovers her talent…" said Roger, whispering and making everyone laugh.
"Do not worry, Miss Daniels, I shall not tell anyone your big secret," Albert said, feigning seriousness.
"Thank you, Mr. Reed. I know I can trust you." Emily was content. Albert had chatted with her, asked questions, and seemed genuinely interested in knowing her better. Also, he was more relaxed than on other occasions and was more the Mr. Reed she knew years ago.
Roger realized how happy his granddaughter was and continued to promote the conversation between the two young people. He knew that Emily admired Albert and hoped that the young man would soon realize that his granddaughter was the perfect woman for him. But suddenly, Roger realized neither his grandson nor Albert was paying attention to him. Instead, he saw that they were looking toward the threshold of the great hall where other guests were gathered.
There, he saw Professor Baker, the Gardiners, and their two lovely nieces entering the room. Clearly, his grandson admired Miss Bennet, and Albert was interested in Miss Elizabeth.
Emily saw Albert's face tighten, and she realized it was from Miss Elizabeth's presence. But she was struck by the fact that he did not smile or look happy but rather tense.
Roger and his group came over to welcome their friends. Albert greeted everyone politely but remained aloof and quite reserved. He could not help but be ashamed to remember his conversation with Darcy and was terrified to think that Elizabeth knew about it. Besides, Darcy was there and did not know what he would tell her.
Peter approached Jane and chatted animatedly with her. Then Lady Grace joined the group, and a fascinating and delightful conversation occurred between everyone, especially the older people. Professor Baker knew Lady Grace because she was a famous patroness who donated large sums of money to the world of arts and sciences.
The conversation was so lively that Baron Wilson, seeing so much cordiality, joined the group and did not regret it. Roger and Professor Baker kept the whole group entertained.
For her part, Sarah Wilson stayed in the company of other ladies who criticized everyone, especially young and pretty women. She did not feel comfortable in that group, but she did not know anyone else. Besides, she was used to women behaving like that and accepted it resignedly.
"Undoubtedly, the blonde who talks to Peter Daniels is beautiful. But her clothes reveal she is just one of those small-town chits who comes to town looking for a rich husband," said Miss Green.
"Unfortunately, many gentlemen like Mr. Daniels fall into the trap of harpies like her," Miss Powell replied.
Sarah did not care about anything her friends said. She was waiting for Mr. Bingley to arrive. His stupid sisters had promised to attend the social gathering, and she needed to do something to get his attention. Her father's finances were getting worse every day, and she had not been able to get any successful businessman to want to associate with him. Evidently, the money he had to invest was not enough to be part of a large business like the one Mr. Reed managed.
Sarah could not help but regret seeing Albert so distant. Without a doubt, he was a much more exciting prospect than the bland Bingley, but he was her last resort. Unfortunately, if Bingley did not propose to her, she would have to do something drastic. She was desperate and could not wait for him to decide.
"Look, London's number one social climber has arrived," Miss Green contemptuously told her companions.
"At least we shall have something to entertain ourselves with tonight." When Miss Powell saw Sarah's questioning face, she clarified what she had said. "Sarah dear, since Caroline debuted in society more than five years ago, she has been after Mr. Darcy, and of course, he does not even look at her."
"I do not know how she can believe that a gentleman as handsome and rich as Mr. Darcy would marry a tradesman's daughter, no matter how rich she is," added Miss Green.
Sarah thought for a while and did not like how those two women talked about the newcomers. "Well, dears, I shall go say hello to the Bingleys. Do not look at me with those faces because I consider them my friends."
The moment Sarah left, both ladies began to speculate the reasons for Sarah's sudden friendship with those people and assumed that the rumored ruin of Baron Wilson must indeed have something to do with it.
When Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam saw the Bennet ladies and their family, they went to greet them, but they could hardly speak with them because the piano concert had begun. So, everyone sat to listen to the mini-concerto for almost forty minutes, some sincerely enjoying the music while others were bored.
After the music ended, some refreshments were served, and Mr. Darcy did not miss the opportunity to get closer to the person he dreamed of almost every night. "Miss Elizabeth, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to see you again. I hope you enjoyed the music as much as I did."
Elizabeth had felt Mr. Darcy's intense gaze on her throughout the concert, so she could not help but get flustered when he approached her so enthusiastically. "Yes, I enjoy it very much. I am glad uncle Walter and Mr. Daniels invited us."
Mr. Darcy saw Peter sitting beside Jane, and the two chatted amiably. But he also noticed that while talking with Miss Daniels, Albert was observing Elizabeth. "The Daniels are very friendly people; I am glad they became good friends with you and your family."
"Yes, we enjoy their company and Mr. Roger Daniels's stories and anecdotes." Then, Elizabeth told him more about her friendship with the Daniels, especially how Grandfather Roger had become close friends with her uncle because they had many things in common. "You know, both of them are tradesmen, and they are proud of it," Elizabeth said to see how Mr. Darcy would react and was very surprised when he said nothing.
Elizabeth also saw that Mr. Darcy and Albert exchanged glances from time to time. She had noticed Mr. Reed had behaved very differently than he usually did. He had hardly spoken to her, but she assumed it was a dispute between the two men, and she preferred not to inquire into the matter. "How is your sister? I hope she can return to her normal life soon."
"Her face is almost healed, but you already know how insecure she is. She will not want to leave the house until she has any marks. Also, as you know, we have more pressing concerns, so I prefer that she be at home. Which is why I thought maybe you and your family could visit her one of these days," said Mr. Darcy, testing the waters.
Elizabeth hinted that she knew what he meant but said nothing. The matter of the letters was something too delicate to discuss in a drawing room in the middle of a social gathering.
"I know my Aunt will be happy to visit Georgiana. You know, she was very concerned for your sister. I think we are open the day after tomorrow because uncle Walter is leaving tomorrow," explained Elizabeth.
"Thank you. We shall be waiting for you and your Aunt," Mr. Darcy replied, content.
Caroline was furious seeing how Mr. Darcy conversed with Elizabeth, but at that moment, she was more concerned with keeping her brother away from Jane Bennet and close to Sarah Wilson. She did not understand why those horrible women and their family of merchants insisted on following them wherever they were. But, she got distracted for a few moments greeting some acquaintances, and Mr. Bingley excused himself and went to speak to Jane.
Sarah observed Mr. Bingley and noticed how he watched the blonde speaking to Peter Daniels. She confirmed her suspicions when he left the group to speak to her. "Caroline, my dear, who is that blonde talking to the Daniels?" Sarah asked, noticing how Caroline glared at her brother.
"She is a nobody, my dear Sarah. A poor country chit we met a few months ago in Hertfordshire. She aspired to have a connection with our family, but my sister and I made it clear to her that we were not interested in her or her vulgar family," Caroline said dismissively.
"Interesting, and what is her name?" Sarah asked casually.
"Jane Bennet," Caroline replied. "But please do not waste our time talking about that insignificant chit. Do you not think, my dear?"
"Of course," Sarah replied. But she assumed Caroline's contempt for the lady was for more profound reasons than what she described. So, she decided to pay attention to Mr. Bingley and his interactions with Jane Bennet for the rest of the evening.
Peter happily chatted with Jane when they were interrupted by a man he had met before but did not quite remember well. He saw Miss Bennet get very nervous and decided to intervene. "Good evening, sir. I am Peter Daniels, and I think we were introduced a while ago."
Mr. Bingley reacted and greeted cordially the man next to his angel. "Yes, we met at Baron Wilson ball." Then he kept speaking to Jane and ignored Peter. "It is a pity that this is not a ball, do you not think, Miss Bennet? I would have loved to dance with you." Mr. Bingley talked incessantly, and Jane and Peter just listened between annoyed and amused.
"I was delighted listening to Lady Grace, Mr. Bingley. Of course, I like to dance, but I enjoy other diversions too," replied Jane.
Before Mr. Bingley interrupted them, Jane talked to Mr. Daniels about music, and Peter told her about his favorite opera. Hearing Mr. Bingley's nonsensical conversation, she wondered why she had been attracted to him. He was indeed handsome and kind, but at that moment, she realized they did not have much in common. He only saw her for her appearance, and now she wanted someone who would take an interest in her with all she represented.
After almost ten minutes of listening to Mr. Bingley talk about balls and people she did not know, she could not help but look at Peter. When their gazes met, they both could not help but smile. Jane understood that Mr. Daniels was thinking the same way she did, and she wanted Mr. Bingley to leave and let them resume their conversation.
Albert stayed close to Roger and his granddaughter Emily the whole evening, avoiding Elizabeth. After seeing her speak so pleasantly with Darcy, he felt shame for his impulsive behavior. He was unsure if Mr. Darcy had told her about their conversation a few days ago. He wanted to speak to Elizabeth even though he did not know what to say. But he needed to find the right time for that, and it certainly was not in the middle of a social gathering.
When Roger went to converse with Lady Grace, Emily dared to ask Albert why he was withdrawn. "Are you well, Mr. Reed? You are very quiet this evening."
Albert realized that he had hardly spoken and answered Emily kindly. This time, he wanted to converse and did not desire to offend her. Now, he understood that she could be timid when she felt uncomfortable. "I have some problems that keep me a little distracted, that is all. Did you enjoy the concert, Miss Daniels?" he asked to start a conversation.
"Yes, very much. Lady Grace is truly talented," Emily replied. At first, they chatted about music but continued conversing about the fabrics business and how international trade became increasingly important to the Kingdom's economy.
Albert forgot about Elizabeth and Darcy and how stupid he acted when he went to Darcy House. "Thank you, Miss Daniels," said Albert impulsively and genuinely grateful.
"Why?" Emily asked, nervous and flushed when she saw how Albert looked at her.
Seeing Emily flushed and nervous, Albert could not help but feel flattered and motivated by a strange joy. He could not help but smile and happily replied, "For being who you are."
"And what does that mean?" Emily asked, unable to look at Albert.
Albert laughed, "If you know yourself, you know what it means." Emily looked at him and felt like she was floating on a cloud. That night, the charming, generous, intelligent, and friendly Mr. Reed had returned and was happily chatting with her.
When Dorothy saw that Emily was speaking to Albert, she was enraged and would interrupt them so that her daughter could interact with people of higher social standing. But his father-in-law once again prevented her from bothering his granddaughter.
On her side, Lady Matlock noted her nephew's interest in Miss Elizabeth. From what she could gather, she learned that she was a woman without money or connections. She had other plans for Mr. Darcy, and seeing how he had been watching her all night, she knew something was happening between them.
Without a doubt, the gathering at Lady Grace's house had unsuspected consequences for all of the attendees.
P&P
"Randall, I came as soon as I could. In your note, you told me you had new information, and I am curious to know what it is about. I was in the middle of a social gathering, and when my mother discoveres that I left without saying goodbye, she will want to kill me," Richard said with his usual sense of humor. He had told the Matlocks' butler that if a message came from Randall, he should notify him immediately. All the servants loved Richard very much, and any of his requests became an order for them. So when the message arrived at Matlock House, they took the trouble to get it to him at once at Lady Grace's house.
Randall smiled and explained the situation. "Yes, Colonel, I think Wickham is convinced he has something to help him make good money. It is something he carries with him all the time, although I could not learn what it was. So I called you because I thought maybe you know what it is about." He explained everything he had observed to his friend.
The Colonel immediately connected the information to Georgiana's letters and knew he had no time to waste. He wished he could call the magistrate to ensure the scoundrel spent the rest of his days behind bars, but there was no time for that. "Randall, is Wickham still at the bar?"
"Yes, although I think he was about to leave. You are just in time," the loyal soldier replied.
"Go back inside and make sure he comes out alone. I shall take care of the rest. Can you help me with that?" Richard said as he hatched a plan.
"I shall, sir. But if you need help, several of my friends and I are here," Randall offered.
Richard could not expose his cousin's secret to many people, so he knew he had to act alone and discretely. "No, I want to take care of that bastard personally," Richard replied briskly. Luckily, he did not have to wait long because twenty minutes after Randall entered the bar, Wickham emerged from it.
As always, and before walking alone through the streets of that part of the city, Wickham looked both ways to be sure that no one was watching him. He knew that he had more than one enemy looking for him. But, of course, he did not realize that just across the street and hidden in the darkness of an alley was Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
Wickham started walking hurriedly towards his lair until suddenly, someone intercepted his path and said, "Do you remember me, you damn bastard?"
Although the street was dimly lit, Wickham immediately recognized Richard's threatening voice and, trembling, replied, "Fitzwilliam, what are you doing here?"
"I have come to tell you a few things, but first, I want to do something I have dreamed of for many days." Richard gave him a blow so hard that Wickham fell heavily to the ground and, almost crying, begged him to let him go.
P&P
Many thanks to everyone who leaves supportive comments and enthusiastically follows the story.
In the next chapter, Richard will tell Wickham everything he thinks of him.
Saludos,
Yo